What is Digg?114 Comments
- Moocat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5According to Starforce themselves, and I quote,
"And our technical support received zero feedback from people who had to totally rebuild their computers because of StarForce drivers. According to our research those of users that do run into compatibility problems are beginner-level-hackers that try to go around our protection system."
So people who have comptability problems (who you didn't recieve feedback from...what?) are beginner-level-hackers eh? People who rebuild their entire system, which is obviously a 5 minute job. You know, because people can just up and rebuild their system all the time. And that's some pretty fancy research, being able to tell who has the problems while simutaneously not recieving any feedback from them! It's like mind-reading, but with less mind and more poop. Like, from a butt. - AlmostEvil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3If I may add (pity there is no edit function), I happen to own a few games that include starforce (X2 The Threat and X3 Reunion). X2 The Threats last patch removed the requirement of starforce enabling it to run without the need of the cd. However, go to the egosoft forum and do a search (via google, forum search is disabled) for starforce and you'll see just how much people complain about it in X3.
The good thing about all this is that for the most part only ***** games/publishers have opted to use starforce since it's a system that has possible future inherent security flaws.
I personally do not see the logic of the required cd check etc.
For example, I own Battlefield 2.. (not starforce) this is an online only game that requires a valid (non-keygen) key in order to play online.. yet it requires the cd to be in the drive?
Why?
What's the logic of that? Are they hoping to make people wear out the cd so they can get some extra cash by making people buy replacement cd/dvd's? - Vektuz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Starforce is invasive
Starforce is ILLEGAL - legislation just hasn't caught up to it yet.
Starforce is for boycotting
Starforce installs stuff without my permission
Starforce interferes or alters the normal operation of my machine.
Starforce causes a reboot to be needed where one should not be
Starforce provides no benefit to me, only detraction.
StarForce is DRM spyware/rootkit/etc. YOU DO NOT NEED IT, EVER, IN YOUR SYSTEM.
Boycott any games with starforce in them.
your computer will be happier. And so will you. - carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3games can be great, but it's MY computer, and if you do something that aftificially limits what I can do with MY computer, i'll drop your game from the list of games i play.
piracy is a fact of life, and crippling someone's computer to keep a minority problem at bay isn't going to help you when i choose which games to go buy. it's the legit users that are hurt by these things, not pirates - foolfromhell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Russian bastards cant report to the FBI
- brhad56, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"I have also contacted the FBI , because what you are doing is harassment." -- Dennis Zhidkov
No sir, what you are doing is harassment. - troydoogle7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If people don't know what starforce protection is.... why should they care about it?
- tazamore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Starforce PR drone is right!
It is illegal to speak ill of The Benevolent Ones who allow us to use software. Just because we pay for The Great Software and Our Great Computers does not mean we own them. Nay! We merely are given the privilige to use The Internets so that we may please the Great Ones! This is our purpose!
Please Boing Boing, stop making trouble! We will all be punished! We deserve no better. - Racoon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Great DIGG ! DUGG !
This has happend to me 2 times now.
"For example, here's one of the common problems brought by Starforce: under Windows XP, if packets are lost during the reading or writing of a disk, XP interprets this as an error and steps the IDE speed down. Eventually it will revert to 16bit compatibility mode rendering a CD/DVD writer virtually unusable." - techlinks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Boycott!
- troydoogle7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Infra, I really like Boing Boing, and I agree with what they say on this issue. It seems that sending legal threats is a common practice for starforce. First CNET then Boing Boinb, who's next us?
- rsteinke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The best part is that Boing Boing submitted them to Chilling Effects.
- foolfromhell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well, Alcohol it, it bypasses like 90% of the CD DRMs, for example, i backed up all my play disks, and it passed through MS Office DRM EASILY, and made a bootable ISO
- au071, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The PR manager is a complete moron and bully; on the same level of that Sony guy....
- ziffel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's going to be easy for me to boycott starforce, since I've pretty much given up on PC gaming altogether. This is due in large part to these new Nazi-style tactics like Starforce. To be honest, i'm really just tired of ***** with DRM's and copy-protection schemes that treat me like a common criminal. ***** them.
Same goes for DVD movies that force that god-awful police-siren "you're a goddamned THIEF" video on you at the beginning. ugh. - Sirocco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Digg, because I cannot and will not support copy protection that is software or driver based. And threatening to sue just for criticizing a product is grounds for both harassment and more serious legal action; not the other way around!
- sentinal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Hummm lets see. Spies on me, break my OS. That's not COPY PROTECTION unless it was made my "Mafia Mutual".
Call the feds, what about the 'Computer abuse and Fraud Act of 1985'?
If it doesn't do what it says it does then it's FRAUD!! - Arramol, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I sent an e-mail to StarForce, explaining to them in great detail why this is bad for their business (raise your hand if you're still willing to buy a game with StarForce....anyone? Anyone? Yeah. Didn't think so). Also included the following link to explain to them why their lawsuit is sheer idiocy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment - saigumi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Piracy costs sales, so does Starforce.
I was going to pick up X3 the day it came out, but read a post that it had Starforce and decided not to. I'm now replaying Freespace 2 with the highres packs. Next will be Indepence War 2.
I downloaded the HoMM 5 Demo/Beta. The second it said that Starforce needed to be installed, I clicked "Cancel". What a waste of a Gig of download. Oh well, I hear it is crap anyhow.
Which means I just cost the game seller more sales, my own plus anyone who reads and concers with my feeling of calling the game crap.
But then again, I don't exist according to StarForce as I am not a wanna-be hacker and have had to rebuild a system after having StarForce disable half the system with not ability to recover. What game was it that did it? Rune? I swear it was a CodeMaster published game. I wrote and complained years ago. - Bigfat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Starforce won't even run on my system due to a motherboard in compatibility. When I contacted star-force directly they simply said compatibility on all systems can not be guaranteed. I've contacted Codemasters, but have yet to hear from them.
- midfingr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't think the email is fake. Unless of course the following link is fake:
http://www.star-force.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=506 - impenitent, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Join the boycott! List of known starf**ked games are here.
http://www.glop.org/starforce/ - uacheesehead, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0An update to this story straight from the horse's arse.. err, I mean, mouth:
http://digg.com/security/Starforce_claims_to_have_squashed_the_rumors_ - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Hey, if I get into a beta and I want to disclose information about it, while under NDA. Couldn't I do so from a public terminal? As long as there's no information pointing to me couldn't I release this info?"
I was in the closed beta NDA protected Matrix: Online game, and totally ripped it a new ***** (which it deserved) on every single forum I have a membership for. - tlink211, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That's the BITE! I don't have any of the games on the list but I have the demo of two on the list and I found Starforce on my machine. The removal tool seems to have worked.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The thing is, that these copy protection things cause more harm to the legit people who just want to play, while people like me-- I mean my friend, just use the crack that comes with the file. ;) Or, gamecopyworld or megagames.
Yeah, I download games. But only the ones from EA. If it's a small production house, I tend to purchase the game if I like it. - deRost, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Boing Boing points out that StarForce has some potentially damaging effects, and SF threatens to sue!
Well... I use daemon tools to mount linux iso's for VMWare. According to StarForce, that makes me a pirate?? I am offended by this, and maybe I should sue StarForce for damaging MY good name! - Coreguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0starforce is evil
suppor boingboing,support our privacy - rebrad, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Protect the guilty.
Persecute the innocent.
Welcome to the 21st Century. - 13thHouR, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Hi I am fully aware of the problems that Starforces IDE Protection Drivers cause.
If this is Genuine about the litigation then Starforce are living in cloud cuckoo land.
Some facts.
1. Causes DMA step down in Win2000 to XP, XP eventually drops into PIO mode, this will render DVD video unplayable and burning disks almost impossible. (This is cured by removing SF, then in the device manager remove CD/DVD rom drives and the primary and secondary IDE channels) Continued PIO mode with some newer drives can cause them to interpret it as an overburn causing them to slam the laser housing into the casing, in turn stripping the worm gear thread.
2. (Code 41) in the device manager, this is where windows has loaded the driver and cannot find the hardware. This requires a reistry have to fix, (The howto is on NGH forums), this seems to be very common with thew versions of SF attached to DEMO's and so called free games. SF refused to give correct support on this until I post the fix on Gamespot.
Have a look here at SF's tech support attempts at curing the (Code 41)
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/heroesofmightandmagicv/show_msgs.php?topic_id=25996274&pid=927207&page=0
Basically until I notified SF they did not have a clue how to fix it.
3. Ring 0 access to Ring 3level programs, this is very common if you use the IDE subsystem to piggy back a Virtual driver, Full IDE control Ring 0 and the programs SF runs are in Ring 3. It does not take a genuis to work out how vulnerable this is. That is why nobody uses IDE as virtual drives. They use SCSI.
http://www.n-gage-help.com for the howto fix Code 41 error. and the Pro/anti Starforce sections in the forums.
I actually went a stage further, I openly challenged Starforce Technologies to come to NGH head quarters in the UK and try and disprove the claims. So far they have refused to comment. - h0dg3s, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0USlawyer isn't a word
- streetstealth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The sad thing is, there are some really good games in that list.
I really wanted to buy TrackMania Sunrise. The demo was excellent, and I love supporting innovative developers like Nadeo (for those who don't know, the game's a racer that's part *puzzle game!*) , but Starforce broke the deal for me.
We have the logical model that crackers and warezers who would have pirated a copy of the game simply move on to some other pirated fix when they can't crack a title. They don't decide "hey, I can't warez this... I think I'll actually leave my parents' basement and bike down to the local EB Games and buy a legit copy!" Rather, they say "WTF, guess I'll warez something else."
Of course, publishers can't wrap their heads around that. Either it's ridiculously hampered by DRM, or it's "floating around out there, oh no!" - 13thHouR, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Some advice for peeps making comments about Starforce think clearly about how you word things.
Starforce is not a virus. Do not say it is or they will sue you.
It does however act as a Trojan Gateway. As in malicious 3rd part apps can exploit its security holes to gain Ring 0 access.
Starforce does not directly trash your drives:
It does however trigger DMA step down to PIO mode,which can damage some CD/DVD roms if run in that mode for an extended period of time.
Starforce does not hack your system:
It does however make it easier for peeps to gain access (see Ring0 issue above).
Starforce does not trash your IDE controller channels:
It does mess up the filters section of the Registry, which in turn causes Windows to kick out a (Code 41) error in the device manager.
Yes I know basically we are saying the same thing, but in this manner it is factual and cannot be open to litigation. ;) - Illidan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Starforce makes Microsoft look angelic.
- BGFeltenink, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0OT:
Hey, if I get into a beta and I want to disclose information about it, while under NDA. Couldn't I do so from a public terminal? As long as there's no information pointing to me couldn't I release this info?
They can't silence those that get told about it right? They never signed an NDA and as I remember once information is publically available only the source of the leak can be held accountable. I could be wrong but I would appriciate some info. Let's just say I might have some really good stuff, but I'd like to know more about this before I head over to starbucks - DigeratiPrime, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0from tfa: "Your article violates approximately 11 international laws."
what does that mean?! is it 11, more or less, or none! - theWaterboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i gotta dig this one :)
Starforce can lick my crusty bunghole. -- let them send me a letter too :p - lightfantastik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0A more effective tactic might be to boycot ALL products made by the manufacturers that use star-force on ANY of their software. When they are making NO money from you, then maybe they'll listen.
- detroitsux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Trying to protect your intellectual property is legal and socially acceptable. Being a DICK is something else.
I'm not going to boycott the games that use Starforce, I'm boycotting Dennis Zhidkov. Digg. - DigeratiPrime, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0boycott starforce.
one reason i like unreal tournament 2004 is it doesnt have a cd/dvd check. they also let you install it on multiple machines and play lan games using the same serial. epic gets it. - Moocat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I for one, would like to know a single international law and where it has been upheld. Go ahead, prove us wrong Starforce. Show us some history to some of these, oh so obvious, laws.
- Dekaritae, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It's rumoured that Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will be using this copy protection system. It makes it difficult to consider a boycott when the game I am anticipating the most this year may be using it.
- Darkmoth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I've made it a point never to buy anything that uses StarForce since I first heard about it a couple of years ago"
is there a way I can tell which games have it? I was considering picking up SHIII, but no more. - gamefoo21, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I've heard of starforce hacking the firmware on burners and wrecking the drives... I actually have read forum posts from respected members of the community saying it happened to them and they had to replace their drive.
Figures only in Russia can hackers can sell a virus to companies and call it copy protection... LOL - dhaelis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Thank you for threatening legal action against Cory Doctorow. Before that, I wasn't aware what 'Starforce' was. Now, I'll make sure to completely avoid and NOT PURCHASE any games with that 'protection' scheme attached to it. Also, I'll make sure to let the developper know WHY I won't be purchasing their product everytime I notice that it contains the 'Starforce' software. Again, thanks for educating me on the 'benefits' of 'Starforce'.
Sincerely,
an ex-customer. - Cerberus047, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0AMEN digeratiprime!!!!!
- kindrobot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Going after boing boing was probably a mistake. And I say probably for the humor effect.
- Rabbethan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0modian, that was priceless
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0phew, don't have any of those games :)
- Thuckenstein, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Just so people know. I just emailed Bethesda Softworks regarding Elder Scrolls: Oblivion using Starforce. Their answer, "We aren't using Starforce". Thank all that's holy, I can unstring the rope from my ceiling fan now. :)
-
Show 51 - 86 of 86 discussions
Digg is coming to a city (and computer) near you! Check out all the details on our 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is